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TTHEHE BB EANOEANO && DD ANDYANDY CC OLLECTORSOLLECTORS ’’ CC LUBLUB November 2007 Issue 4 Contents 1-2 Editorial 2 Caption Competition 3-4 ID Guides: Intro 4-5 Here Boy! 5-7 Annual ID Guide #1 8 Comic Bibles 9, 12 Letters to the Editor 10-11 Beginning 12 Dandy Facelift at 70

EDITORIAL ... Dear Collector, when the summer heat is replaced by missioned to sell the entire collection crisp mornings and falling leaves. I of the late Denis Gifford, in 2001. Welcome to issue 4, the first newslet- also look forward to the celebrations When the executors came to clear the ter of the new season with an extra surrounding Guy Fawkes. Much like collection from his terraced house in four pages… a bumper number, you the Christmas issues, Fireworks com- south east , they found could say! ics usually had very bright, attractive in all manner of places - even in the A key factor to the future success of covers and with Nov 5 th having just oven - so I guess my situation wasn’t the club was to see how many of the passed, it inspired me to look at some so bad after all! (96) Founder Members decided to of the Fireworks issues in my collec- It would seem that the general inter- renew their subscription after issue 3. tion. Feast your eyes on the comic est in British comics is on the rise. I am delighted to say that 80 have covers below… irresistible! renewed as this newsletter went to Firstly, many of you will have watched Whilst on the subject of special is- print (that’s 83% to the statisticians the Comics Britannia series on BBC4 sues, I recently purchased a lovely amongst us), which bodes well for the recently. The first of three one hour collection of such issues from a club future of the club. shows focussed on The Beano and subscriber, which will be offered for , with various key people I hope that your appetite was suitably auction on eBay shortly. being interviewed, including Euan whetted by the article on free gifts, in I took a two month break recently Kerr, Morris Heggie, issue 3, which seems to from auctioning through phil-comics, and Malcolm Phillips. have been well received. I on eBay, after selling steadily for a sent a complimentary copy Something that particularly interested year or so. The primary reason for of the newsletter me about the show was the discus- this is that I have just moved from a to a non-club sub- sions surrounding political correct- rented one bedroom flat to my first scriber who con- ness. Newsletter 2 touched upon the owned property – a two bedroom flat. centrates solely media hype surrounding the Dandy The situation in the rented accommo- on collecting Brit- Monster Comic 1939 reprint edition dation was, towards the end, getting ish comic free featuring ‘racist’ references. I was a little out of hand. Trying to cram a gifts. He has the intrigued to hear that Dan’s favourite combined stock/collection of approxi- two clickers that meal, the cow pie, had to be aban- mately 10,000 comics into a one bed- are currently eluding me doned in the early 1990s when mad room flat was getting cosy to say the and it transpires that it is cow disease was rife in the UK. least. There were comics in the living Biffo the Bear, and not Little room, in the wardrobes and under the Public opinion has changed considera- Plum, on the fourth clicker. Whoops! bed, on the landing and, on one occa- bly since the late 1930s, even the The Autumn has always appealed to sion, up the stairs! This reminded me 1950s and 1960s, when a Dennis the me. Not being one for hot weather, I of when Hamer Auctions were com- Menace strip would be incomplete am always relieved without the final

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COLLECTORS ’ C LUB I NFORMATION The Beano & Dandy Collectors’ Club Articles for publication will be gratefully PO Box 3433 received and should be sent to the PO Box Brighton address, or via email, as should any other BN50 9JA correspondence. Subscription costs (3 x newsletters) Tel 01273 673462 UK £9.95 (PayPal £10.60) Mob 07739 844703 Email [email protected] Europe £12.75 (PayPal £13.50) www.phil-comics.com Worldwide £14.50 (PayPal £15.50)

The BEANO and The DANDY logos are ®© DC Thomson & Co. Ltd., 2007. All associated characters are © DC Thomson & Co. Ltd.

Used By Kind Permission of DC Thomson & Co. Ltd.

... EDITORIAL panel involving Dennis’ Dad’s slipper! man (Publicist) at the ABC Comic Unsworth, Bury, BL9 8LE. Other examples include those seen on Show in London in October where Well, I hope that the wide array of the Fireworks issues; today, they were promoting the content within this newsletter will images of comic characters be- magazine. Both have keep you entertained until the next ing blown off the ground, ‘de- worked professionally with one, due to be published in Spring feathered’ and charred by fire- British comics and were 2008. May I take this opportunity to works would be frowned upon. naturally very enthusiastic wish you all the very best for the fes- Do you have any interesting or about the publication. tive season and new year! unusual vintage comics contain- Having bought the first ing images or words that would two issues (issue 3 is due Happy reading! be considered too non-PC today out in January 2008) I that you could supply to us to would recommend it for help with a future article? those subscribers who have an interest in British Phil Shrimpton Secondly, a new magazine, comics beyond The Beano and The called Crikey!, was born in of Dandy. For more information you can this year and is marketed as ‘The visit www.crikeyuk.co.uk or write to Great British Comics Magazine’. I met Brian Clarke at 4 Hillsborough Drive, Brian Clarke (Editor) and Tom Sweet-

CAPTION C OMPETITION ! My thanks go to all those who submitted suggestions for the Dennis the Menace caption competition. Jonathan Juleff, of Cornwall, seems to be on a winning streak! His caption, “Let’s paint the town red”, was chosen by the Dennis the Menace artist, David Sutherland, to scoop the prize of the 25 th birthday Beano comic. Our latest competition invites you to supply us with your funniest caption/s to the following image, the 1958 Beano Book. The subscriber supplying the winning caption, as judged by DC Thomson, will receive a 1964 Christmas Beano comic. Entries to be received by 31 st December, 2007.

BRAND N EW S ALES P AGE AT P HIL -COMICS .COM At phil-comics auctions we sell please make contact as soon as possible to avoid possible the majority of our stock disappointment. through eBay, as auctions. How- Examples of key words include Beano , Dandy , comic , ever, the Sales page of our web- , Victor , Beezer , Topper , , , annual , site (www.phil-comics.com) also summer special etc or, if you wish to browse all the lists items for sale at set prices. items for sale at any one time, type in *. We are pleased to announce that We have added a healthy level of stock to launch the fea- we have just upgraded the Sales ture and have not advertised the page elsewhere yet, page, having installed a search which gives you, the club subscriber, priority. Please re- facility much like that found on turn to the page regularly as we intend to keep the ’shop’ eBay. well stocked. Simply visit the Sales page, type phil-comics auctions, PO Box 3433, Brighton, in the comic item that you are searching for and click BN50 9JA, UK search. With any luck, we will have items in that category 01273 673462 - [email protected] matching the title/s you seek. Items are offered on a first- www.phil-comics.com come-first-served basis, so if you see anything of interest

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ID G UIDES : A N I NTRODUCTION by Phil Shrimpton This article introduces a series of fea- collectors scorned the possibility that information would then be found in a tures where we will publish full colour , Hotspur and Adventure would similar publication of another name. images of the undated DC Thomson ever be seriously collected. It was also not unusual for an annual annuals up to, and including, 1965. I But times have changed, and those to be missed one year and then reap- have no doubt that many collectors who actually bought the on pear the next, and indeed for one know all the annual covers without publication day have got fewer and annual to alternate with another, such racking their brains too much but, fewer. On the other hand, there are as ‘Beryl the Peril’ one year and nevertheless, this will form an at-a- growing generations who look back on ‘Dennis the Menace’ the next. Of glance series of identification guides. the Dandy and Beano with genuine course, those annuals that in the On page 8 of this newsletter we offer affection. main were aimed at the Scottish mar- for sale reference books devoted to ket, featuring absolute Scottish char- Today, early DC Thomson papers are DC Thomson’s ‘Stable Four’. Ray acters like ‘’ and ‘The selling – in some cases – at higher Moore carried out the bulk of the re- Broons’, were never on a strict yearly prices than those from the old Amal- search for the four superb guides, schedule, possibly due to the use of gamated Press, and even issues of which were originally published be- available reprint material. The same ten years ago are being eagerly tween the mid 1980s and early can be said of the occasional ‘Black sought after at premium prices. 1990s. The Beano Diaries, The Dandy Bob’ annual. It should be made clear, Monster Index, The Book of the With annuals the story is somewhat however, that ‘Oor Wullie’ and ‘ and Topper Tales provide writ- different, for it would seem that annu- Broons’ did have a small circulation in ten descriptions of the cover artwork als from all publishers have their own , though the appeal was obvi- for each of their respective undated demand, though again DC Thomson ously rather limited. annuals. titles are among the favourites. One could raise endless questions and Browsing through the guides, one can Unfortunately, until 1965 this com- at best only arrive at a theory, all of easily forget the painstaking research pany caused considerable confusion to which points to the interest in this that went into their compilation. I collectors by issuing their annuals in a publisher’s work. guess you could say that we take dateless fashion, and therefore mak- We hope at least that one aspect of them for granted. For example, most ing the acquisition of complete sets an the mystery surrounding DC Thomson of us will know that absurdity. will now be clarified once and for all, had a one-off annual in 1954 and that Advertising for ‘wants’ will of course this being a positive identification of the Dennis the Menace and Beryl the always be a difficult task, but the all the annuals for that complete pe- Peril annuals ran bi-annually with problem of what annual came out riod which was once in doubt. each other, just by picking up one of when, and what came out first, was Perhaps that last statement should be these guides. But what did collectors such a hopeless task that it prompted clarified. Unfortunately, there are just do before the publication of such us to compile this little catalogue. guides? Who were the original pio- a few gaps in this listing, for the task neers of the annual identifications? Why DC Thomson published their an- was no easy one due to several rea- nuals without a date is a matter of sons such as incomplete files at the To my knowledge, the first official conjecture. Possibly an annual without British Museum and the lack of adver- identification guide for the DC Thom- a date made selling it at a later period tising in DC Thomson periodicals. We son (and John Leng) annuals was an easier task. Indeed, it is only the decided, therefore, that as we had published by Bill date that devalues it in the news- exhausted our sources of research, it Lofts and Derek agents’ eye from the full retail price. was pointless to delay publication any Adley, in 1975. I There were, in fact, a number of occa- longer. have quoted sional annuals from Thomson’s that May we then request that any collec- various sections were sold over a two-year span, the tor in possession of the missing data below from the lack of a dated cover making them contact the compilers of this publica- foreword of their ageless. first guide as I tion, in order that an addendum can feel it forms an If this was the publisher’s general be made available.” intention, in later years they must important text A compelling account; I read with have had very few ‘remainders’, for from the early interest Lofts’ and Adley’s suggestion after about forty years of issuing chil- researchers of that the reason the annuals were dren’s annuals they changed their annual identifica- dated, from 1965, was that they were tactics, and fell in line with their tion, and reads as an interesting so popular they were selling all that strongest rivals – now known as IPC – snapshot of the collecting world some were being printed, so no need to and commenced showing the year on thirty or so years ago. leave them undated! In newsletter 2 the cover. “The collecting craze has undergone we featured a caption from a John tremendous change over the last few Research of any kind into the publica- Menzies newsagent’s supplement with years, and what was once a selective tions of DC Thomson is never an easy a DC Thomson feature where the band of collectors of children’s annu- task, partly due to a general tendency company used the slogan “The annu- als has now grown to a small army of to withhold information. als that sell themselves!” Sales patter enthusiasts. At times, the advertising campaign to of course, but this probably proves they were simply stating an absolute Not the least of the favourite chil- sell some of their children’s annuals fact! dren’s annuals are those from the was unusual to say the least, for to firm of DC Thomson, and their associ- study a particular weekly publication There are three main methods used ates, John Leng, who seem to have to glean information regarding an an- to identify annuals. nual of the same name would reveal grown from strength to strength in The first method uses the weekly absolutely nothing except an advert collectors’ eyes. comics. Publishing the books each for a different annual. The required Fifteen years ago the hard-core of September, DC Thomson were natu-

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rally keen to promote their annuals as HERE B OY ! T HE D ANDY WONDER D OG ... by Phil Shrimpton early as possible to their readers, so comics dated from September right Picture the scene: and his ber 1946 through until Christmas often con- master, the shepherd Andrew Glenn, until Sep- tained adverts for the annuals. These living in a cottage on Ettrick Farm, t e m b e r either pictured the an- near Selkirk, in the Scottish Borders. 1967. Days packed full of adventure regu- nual cover or gave a Black Bob larly the faithful pair… one day, taster of an enticing proved to be to Andrew’s dismay, smoke fills his story that could be such a cottage, so Bob climbs the chimney found inside. What bet- popular charac- stack to dislodge the cause – a jack- ter proof could there be ter that, in Sep- daw’s nest. During a flood, Bob is res- that those books des- tember 1949, cuing seven hens and two cats, herd- tined to be the 1954 DC Thomson ing them onto an upturned table so Beano and Dandy an- launched the they float to safety. Swept along by nuals were those pic- first of several the water, the animals sit amicably tured in an advert in spin-off books together. Another day, alone on a The Beano comic #595, for a Dandy or hillside the shepherd sprains his an- dated 12th December, Beano charac- kle. Bob finds a long handled sweep- 1953, pictured left. ter. The 1950 ing brush and Andrew uses it as a Black Bob an- The second means of dating annuals crutch. Bob’s fighting an evil dog on a nual was a is to look at the first page or two roof fifty feet in the air. Bob falls, but success and, at where, in many cases, either a dedi- fortunately a horse and cart is passing the front, the cation or inscription, often with an below, carrying a piece of canvas to following ac- accompanying date, will have been soften the fall. A wicked man gives knowledgement written at the time. Armed with the Bob a sweet with a sedative inside, was printed, knowledge that the books were pub- but the clever canine is suspicious and the only such lished in the Autumn prior to the year spits the sweet out. for which they were intended and one I have seen in a Beano or Dandy were ordinarily given as Christmas The Black Bob stories race at a related annual: presents, breathless pace and there is never a it forms a dull moment in these yarns. The fa- reliable mous sheepdog’s adventures are full method of of drama and excitement. But, as a identifica- working dog, he mostly enjoys herd- tion. A ing sheep on the hills with his master, good ex- then home for a well earned supper ample of and a snooze on the hearthrug by the this is an fire. inscription, In total, eight Black Bob annuals were d a t e d printed, spanning fifteen years to 1939, found in a 1940 Beano Book Black Bob, The Dandy Wonder Dog, 1965—see the article on page 5 for that I recently viewed, pictured was a prolific character in The Dandy more details. above. comic, first appearing in #280, dated There is little doubt that Black Bob A third method of identification exists 25/11/44, but being previewed in was inspired by the release of the film but relies on the possession of original #279, both being pictured on page 5. adaptation of Eric Knight’s book, Las- newsagent’s advertising mediums. His Dandy ‘career’ can be split into sie Come Home , in 1943, set in York- The two such items featured in issue two distinct phases; prose story from shire and the Scottish Highlands. 2, namely, the official DC Thomson 1944 until 1955 and picture strip from Interestingly, despite the scripts and flyer advertising the 1959 annuals 1956 until 1982. Interestingly, the prose stories being written by various (the flyer depicts “The annuals for stories from the first phase were members of The Dandy editorial team (Christmas) 1958”) and the John over the years, including Bill Swinton, Menzies booklet Ron Caird and David Torrie, the art for 1965, pictured left, are the only two pre-1966 examples I am aware of, and I dare say that very few others exist. The most realistic method for identi- fication would be method one, the adverts within the Above left; prose, right; picture strip comics, but that Above Black Bob in comes with its own problems in that sometimes used as scripts for the the researcher must have access to all latter. The picture strips were all was provided almost exclusively by a of the comics! originally produced for DC Thomson’s single artist. Jack Prout (1900-78), an magazine-cum-newspaper The Englishman from Cornwall, was a Well done, Lofts and Adley! Weekly News, where Bob had ap- Thomson staff artist of the ‘old school’ peared in a half-page strip from Octo- who had a somewhat anachronistic

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style which helped to create the pre- But, undoubtedly, Jack Prout will war feel of the Black be remembered for his work on Bob adventures. Black Bob, which may leave you wondering where the artist gained Jack began as a the inspiration from for nearly Thomson staff artist in forty years worth of wonderful bor- the 1930s, illustrating der collie illustrations. Surprisingly, their adult magazines, it didn’t come from a dog that he for example, Red Let- owned; well, at least not for the ter, People’s Friend first twenty or so years. Until the and for years could be seen wander- and Topical Times. He early-1960s, he would often be asked ing the hills surrounding in a drew for comics and manner not unlike the adventures boys’ adventure pa- found in the pages of The Dandy pers during the war comic. and his only picture strip before Black Bob This leads nicely to our spot-the- was a 9 issue run of difference competition! Please tell us The Shipwrecked Circus in The Beano which pair above is Andrew Glenn/ in issues 213-221 (1943). Black Bob and which one is Jack Prout/Bob. Entries to be pulled out of After the war his work, with one ex- a hat on December 31 st and the win- ception, was for The Dandy, and in- ner will receive a 1965 Black Bob an- cluded more obscure strips such as whether he owned a dog, and invaria- nual. No clues! Four T’s in T-T-T-Trouble, Mary’s bly answered that after drawing dogs Magic Medicines and Tin Lizzie. The all day, he did not want to go home to My thanks go to Ruth Sear of Surrey, exception was illustrations in The a real one! However, in the mid- for showing great enthusiasm and Beano comic during the years 1945- 1960s, his son presented him with a providing the introduction, useful in- 48, namely, Tick-Tock Timothy, The Border collie puppy and he fell in- formation (some originally from Ray Witch’s Spell on Poor King Bell and stantly for the Black Bob lookalike. Moore) and images which helped in Ben O’ the Beanstalk. Unsurprisingly, he named the dog Bob the writing of this article.

ANNUAL I DENTIFICATION G UIDE 1: B LACK B OB by Phil Shrimpton Black Bob has been chosen as the Lofts and Adley touched upon the ad- published in newsletter 2, and shown first annual title for several reasons: verts within the comics as a means of again here on page 7. The official 1) as luck would have it, you have researching annual dates. As a point flyer produced by DC Thomson shows, just read an article about him; 2) of interest, I browsed through issues in full colour, the 1959 annuals with a Black Bob was the first character from of Beano and Dandy comics from Sep- bright orange Black Bob book. either The Beano or The Dandy to be tember to December 1958, and found Incidentally, the advert in the John given his own book; 3) it is widely three picture adverts relating to the Menzies Annuals Supplement (page 7) known that Black Bob annuals are Black Bob Book. They show the dis- confirms that the upright Black Bob difficult to identify due to the similar- tinctive artwork of Bob on the cover of Book was indeed for 1965, and the ity of the cover designs, and one of- the ‘1959’ annual. ten has to resort to the back cover image or the title of the first story for definitive identification; 4) the three techniques I introduced as means of identification (comic adverts, inscrip- tions / dedications and newsagents flyers) have all been shown to be of great use in putting together this arti- cle; 5) as you will read shortly, two Black Bob annuals offer an interesting anomaly in terms of identification. Prior to reading on, I would recom- mend that you read John Feeney’s letter, and Ray Moore’s response, in the Letters to the Editor section on page 9. I recall an email from my good friend and arch rival, David Jones, in about 2001 stating that he had noticed an David also noticed that when the anomaly with the dating of two Black Bob Books. The eight annuals making books were placed one of top of each up the set had previously been estab- other in the new order, with the oldest lished for the years 1950, 1951, on top, the ‘house style’ (exclamation 1953, 1955, 1957, 1959, 1961 and mark symbols) of the spine design, 1965. On eBay, David had noticed up to 1957, is maintained, after which two or three examples of the 1955 it changes. This is demonstrated in annual bearing a 1958 inscription, the picture to the right. and the 1959 annual bearing a 1954 The piece of evidence that, in my eyes inscription, indicating that the annuals (as well as John Feeney’s), provides had been identified in reverse. definitive proof of the misdating was - 5 -

ANNUAL I DENTIFICATION G UIDE 1: B LACK B OB

Black Bob Book 1950 Published in September 1949 Price 4/- 128 pages

Black Bob Book 1951 Published in September 1950 Price 5/- 128 pages

Black Bob Book 1953 Published in September 1952 Price 6/- 128 pages

Black Bob Book 1955 Published in September 1954 Price 5/- 128 pages

Black Bob Book 1957 Published in September 1956 Price 5/- 128 pages

Black Bob Book 1959 Published in September 1958 Price 5/- 128 pages

Black Bob Book 1961 Published in September 1960 Price 5/- 128 pages

Black Bob Book 1965 Published in September 1964 Price 6/- 128 pages

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inscription found on the title page of a red covered Black Bob annual, dated Xmas 1952 and pictured be- Bob Books, with the title page low, shows it as the 1953 edition. showing the first story. As you will see from the full page feature, de- I should stress that these two dates spite the identical cover artwork of were never in contention, but are the first five annuals, it is possible mentioned here as points of interest to distinguish these editions by the as both further demonstrate the background cover colour, although identification methods. I would recommend you always The picture guide opposite shows the check the rear cover and first story front and rear covers of the Black if in doubt.

SEVENTY Y EARS OF T HE B EANO & T HE D ANDY : 2008 C ALENDAR As part of the 70 th birthday celebrations of The Beano and and is priced at £9.99 within the UK and £11.99 for over- The Dandy comics, DC Thomson have produced an A3 seas. For those members who do not have access to the sized classic calendar for 2008. We have received our copy internet, we are happy to buy a and are impressed with the layout and choice of imagery, calendar on which captures various vintage strips and comic covers. your behalf My personal favourites are July and post it on and August, as I have a real to you. The soft spot for summer specials, total costs for and also the December page. the calendar The choice of strip is Leo Bax- and forwarding endale’s full page Bash Street postage are as Kids piece from the 1961 follows: UK Beano Christmas issue, £12.95, Europe crammed full of pranks and £14.95, World- gags. Each time I look at it I wide £17.95. If notice something I hadn’t no- you are inter- ticed before! ested, please send a cheque, The calendar is available exclu- payable to The sively through the DC Thomson Beano & Dandy Collectors’ Club , w e b s i t e with your name and address to (www.shop.dcthomson.co.uk) the address on page 2.

REPRINT E DITIONS

With the price of original annuals reaching dizzying heights (a Fine 1940 Oor Wullie annual, found in an Edinburgh loft, recently exchanged hands for £4,500!) it is a relief to most collectors when reprints are produced. DC Thomson have just published the Oor Wullie 1940 annual with an RRP of £14.99. We have several copies which we are offering to club subscribers for £12.95 each plus P&P (UK £3.75, Europe £6.95, Worldwide £12.10). We also have copies of the 1939 Broons and 1939 Dandy Monster Comics, pictured right, and are offering them at our lowest price ever - £4.95 each plus P&P (UK £5.25, Europe £7.85, Worldwide £13.75). Significant postage savings can be made when buying three or more copies. phil-comics auctions, PO Box 3433, Brighton, BN50 9JA, UK

01273 673462 - [email protected] www.phil-comics.com

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THE B IBLES O F T HE B RITISH C OMIC C OLLECTING WORLD ! In past newsletters there has been a regular mention From pre-war times to made to The Beano Diaries and The Dandy Monster Index , the hi-tech video age, both written by Ray Moore. Ray’s hercu- through the watershed lean efforts extend years of Dennis the Men- further to The Book ace, Leo Baxendale and of The Beezer and in the 1950s, Topper Tales . The from the days of George Beano Diaries was Moonie, Dudley Watkins published by British and Big Comic World (Alan Eggo & David Coates) in and on to Euan Kerr, Dave Sutherland 1991 in a limited and Calamity James, these two volumes edition printing. We are a modest attempt to catalogue the have been fortunate complete history of ‘Beanotown’ from to acquire a small 1938 to the end of 1989. A history which, number of the origi- I’ll hope you’ll agree, is of more than nal print run, of just 281 copies, passing interest.” which have never been sold to collectors, thus being We are aware that many subscribers to in as new condition. We are also delighted to be able our club have an active interest in other to offer for sale the three other guides, as priced be- British comics besides DC Thomson’s low, making up the four key DC Thomson titles. ‘Stable Four’. We are, therefore, pleased Each guide gives complete listings of all of the strips, to offer you an array of British comic stories, characters, free gifts, artists, editors and writers. guides, researched and written by British comic experts Special sections can be found on key characters/features such as Steve Holland and David Ashford. Space limita- such as Dennis the Menace, Lord Snooty, Jimmy and his tions mean we can only give the title of each guide, but a Magic Patch, Desperate Dan, Black Bob, The Beano & The full synopsis for each is available upon request. All guides Dandy Comic Libraries, the Beryl the Peril annuals and are soft back and prices include P&P within the UK more, in their respective guides. (overseas charged at cost). Please note that we are order- ing the books in bulk from the publishers upon receiving With special reference to The Beano Diaries, we felt it was orders from club subscribers. The first order will be placed worth quoting Ray’s introduction to the two volumes: approximately 2-3 weeks after posting the newsletters so, “More than half a century has passed since THE BEANO if you order immediately, there may be a short delay be- first saw the light of day in newsagents across the land fore you receive your guide/s. We have a limited supply of and was bought by children who eagerly donned their free The Beano Diaries actually in stock which can be ordered first issue Whoopee Masks, little thinking that in due and delivered on receipt of payment; please make contact course their grandchildren would still be able to buy future before ordering to check stock levels. We hope to hear editions of the same comic. from you soon!

The Beano Diaries, (2 volumes) 191 pages A4 (£25) The Dandy Monster Index, 230 pages A5 (£25) or A4 Special Edition (£40) The Book of the Beezer, Approx 80 pages A5 (£16) Topper Tales, 310 pages A5 (£30) or A4 Special Edition (£45) The Collectors’ Guide, 160 pages A5 (£20) or A4 Special Edition (£30) The Sun Collectors’ Guide, 160 pages A5 (£20) or A4 Special Edition (£30) Index, A5 (£10) or A4 (£20) : a catalogue 1933-59, A5 (£10) or A4 Special Edition (£20) The Thriller Index, A5 (£10) or A4 Special Edition (£15) The Girls’ Own Guide, A5 (£25) or A4 Special Edition (£40) The Fleetway Companion (Lion, Hurricane, Lion, ROTR, , 2000AD, ), 385 pages A5 (£30) or A4 (£45) Classics Illustrated Collectors’ Index, 396 pages A5 (£30) or A4 Special Edition (£45) Classics Illustrated Index (British Edition’s), 104 pages A5 (£15) The Thriller Picture Library: An Illustrated Guide, 248 pages A5 (£25) or A4 (£40) Super Detective Library, Approx 150 pages A5 (£20) Cowboy Comics Library Index, 264 pages A5 (£25) or A4 Special Edition (£40) The Power Pack: Index to the (Wham, Pow, Smash, , ), 154 pages A5 (£20) or A4 (£30) The Complete Valiant Index, 162 pages A5 (£20) or A4 Special Edition (£30) The Complete Lion Index, 162 pages A5 (£20) or A4 Special Edition (£30) The Buster Index, 200 pages A5 (£20) or A4 Special Edition (£30) Knockout Index, Approx 80 pages A5 (£20)

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LETTERS TO THE E DITOR ... Dear Phil Shrimpton freshed the screen only to find phil- the comic before it had appeared in comics had beaten me to it, having the book! The explanation is that, I am a fairly new member of your club swooped with 3 seconds to spare and again, the 1955 and 1959 books have and I thought my first newsletter was from University where he was sup- been mixed up in Ray's index. I might great. I am 10 years old and I collect posed to be studying! add that the reprinted stories in the The Beano quite seriously. My collec- book which Ray lists as 1955 all ap- tion ranges from between 1949 and We have laughed about this long and peared in The Dandy comic in 1963 - 2007. On the 1 st September I am go- often and, to this day, Phil has first fitting in with a 1959 designation for ing to appear on the option on my 1943 Beano if ever I the book. Beano Club page in the decide to sell, and vice versa with his comic (I’m very ex- Magic Fun Book! Keep up the good work. cited). If you have any Last year Phil visited me to view my Best wishes, John Feeney, Ireland spare or double Beano collection and I made sure that he comics I would love Editor Well researched John. I have was still present whilst I checked that them. I wouldn’t be looked in my Beano comic dated certain annuals, such as those above, able to pay for them as 15/8/53 but sadly there was no flyer. were still there after he had finished I am broke from buying I put your letter to Ray who replied as looking! on eBay. My entry for the caption follows… Seriously, it was with much pleasure competition: “I wonder if Mum’s lip Hi Phil plumper works on my arms!” that I joined The Beano and Dandy Collectors’ Club and I am delighted Please let me say how impressed I Your faithfully, Rory Fairhead, Lewes, that Phil has put together such an was with the third issue of the news- East Sussex interesting forum where we fellow letter which, other than the letters Editor Great to hear someone so collectors and enthusiasts can share page, appears to have been all your young has a passion for the older our experiences of the books we all own work. The article on the free gifts comics and annuals. I liked very much love so much. Long may it continue! was a particular highlight with some your artwork; David Sutherland watch choice illustrations of those ephemeral Alan Mazey, Newport, South Wales out! As for being broke from buying freebies from yesteryear included for on eBay, I am sure many of the mem- Editor Thanks for your kind words, good measure. Alan. I should remind you that al- bers of this club know that feeling, Regarding the Black Bob book busi- though you have won a few battles, myself included! Founder Members – ness, I've known they (the 1955 and the war continues...! we know your dates of birth so no 1959 years) were the wrong way pretending you are 10 in an attempt Dear Phil around for years, but short of publish- to wangle some free comics! ing an updated edition of The Dandy Thanks for an enjoyable newsletter 3. Dear Phil Monster Index the error still persists, The item on inserts reminded me of a so by all means put the record I joined eBay in October 2002 and full-colour insert which I received as a straight. this was how I first met our editor, boy of seven with (I think) the Beano After all these years, and it was the one and only phil-comics. of 15th August 1953. The insert was nearly half a lifetime ago, I've got no Phil, as you can tell from the enthusi- on glossy paper and featured the cov- idea how the error came about. No asm of his reviews and from his sales ers of the Thomson annuals published doubt I did get the 'original' order i.e. on eBay, is into this arena for the love that Autumn. I would love to know if the mistaken one, from Lofts and Ad- of collecting rather than purely for any club member has a copy of that ley's DC Thomson identification cata- investment purposes. I owe him some insert and if, indeed, it was associated logue but that is no excuse since I thanks for intervening when I was with the issue of 15/8/53. should have twigged from the con- involved in a bidding war for The Returning to adverts for the annuals, tents of the two books that something Dandy Monster Comic 1940. I had not I see that you reproduced in newslet- was amiss, but obviously I didn't. corresponded with him before this, ter 2 a copy of the advert for the DC Congrats again on newsletter 3. A but he advised me on what he Thomson annuals published in 1958. brilliant job! thought was a maximum price for the This confirms beyond any doubt book, as it had no spine. This help something which I have known for Kind regards, Ray from Phil quickly developed into ban- years. This is that the Black Bob Book Hello Phil ter via email that then developed into 1959 features a reddish orange cover, a friendship, particularly as we both (whereas that of 1955, published in I received my copy of the newsletter a collected similar items. 1954, features a yellow cover.) This few days ago and I enjoyed it very We have had some superb bidding mix-up originated in Lofts’ and Adley’s much. The postman chose to ignore battles; I once beat him to a Fine pioneering guide to the DC Thomson/ the ‘Please Do Not Bend’ message but Desperate Dan annual 1954 and a John Leng annuals in 1975 and has no real harm was done though, just a Magic Beano Book 1943, whilst he has been repeated in all guides issued little curved. Anyway, I put it under a beaten me on a few occasions, most ever since, including Ray Moore's in- pile of Beanos which flattened it out. memorably to the Magic Fun Book valuable The Dandy Monster Index. Keep up the good work. 1942. I will never forget that auction. This is an unaccountable lapse for Jim Copsey, Bristol It was due to end at 2.30pm in the Ray, considering that the index in- afternoon. With a minute or so to go cludes the contents of all Black Bob Editor Where would we be without to the auction end, I placed a final bid Books and that the book which Ray our trusty piles of Beanos? As the which was considerably higher than lists as 1959 includes a story saying goes... the last bid placed. The doorbell then which Ray states was reprinted in the rang and, feeling confident that the Dandy comic between 12/7/58 and auction was won, I answered it. On 25/10/58. It would, there- coming back to the computer I re- fore, have been “reprinted” in

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THE B EANO B EGINNING by Phil Shrimpton Following publication of newsletter 3, aside though, two facsimiles of the #1 sheet, making four pages, and was a subscriber wrote in to say that he issue have been produced. The first, rather clever in that it was designed would not be renewing his subscrip- in 1978, was part of a book called DC to be removed and cut/folded to form tion. On enquiring why, he replied he Thomson Firsts , in A4 full size format. a mini Beano comic, which can be was in his seventies and had recently More recently, in 2003, an A5 sized considered a pre-#1 issue! Along the started collecting comics, and joined reprint was produced with the free ‘spine’ of the cut-out the Collectors’ Club, in an attempt to gift. ‘comic’ included snippets re-live the magic of his boyhood such as “BIG EGGO FOR comic reading, when he was “mad on BIG LAUGHS ON THE comics”. Unfortunately, he said the SPLENDID COLOURED magic was now gone. COVER OF THE BEANO”, The Beano comic #1 was published “TUESDAY IS FUN DAY Were the comics really magical back on Tuesday 26 th July 1938, but dated WITH THE BEANO... THE in those days? Well, there was cer- 30 th July 1938. Consisting of 28 BIG NEW COMIC WITH 6 tainly Jimmy and His Magic Patch and pages, it was priced at 2d and came PAGES IN COLOUR” and The Magic Comic ! I’m sure The Beano with a Whoopee Mask free gift. Before the caption pictured to the & The Dandy comics did seem magical we delve into the contents of the right. The ‘Big Five’ story to many children as they were so dif- comic, I shall touch upon how the papers previously men- ferent from the boys’ story papers of comic was advertised. tioned, with pages and both DC Thomson and The Amalga- pages of prose text, were mated Press that dominated the mar- aimed at a slightly older reader than ket prior to 1937, and they provided that of The Dandy and The Beano, so entertainment like little else available DC Thomson were filling a gap in the at the time. market for younger children. Indeed, There is no question that the feeling printed on the flyer given with Rover of nostalgia (“The good old days”) #849 was “Please hand this Comic to makes the comics of yesteryear seem the youngsters” and “Any young folk so magical. you know will be glad to have this Ray Moore’s interesting account in Comic Section when you’ve finished newsletter 1 told the story of how the it”. name “Beano” came to be, and Ray These flyers are genuinely rare, so I As the Beano comic #1 was being agreed with another author that the am delighted to offer one, pictured published, readership of The Dandy actual name itself, “Beano”, was a below, for £200 post inclusive. comic would have reached a healthy matter of total irrelevance to its suc- level and, importantly, would have cess. attracted the type of readership to- When talking of success, one assumes wards which The Beano comic was circulation and readership figures, in targeted. which case the peak in success of The An advert, pictured Beano comic was in the 1950s when, left, appeared in The it is rumoured, over two million copies Dandy comic #34, per week were produced. Some of you dated 23/07/38, a will remember swapping the comics mere three days be- round the school yard in the 1950s, fore the publication so in terms of actual readership, the date of the #1 Beano figures were huge! The Beano comic, like The Dandy comic. As seen, The comic, was intended to be just that – It has to be said that the style of the Beano comic was a “comic”, with “comic” strips. You are Beano comic in the fifties, when it dubbed as The likely to be familiar with the comic reached its peak, was rather different Dandy’s new within the last fifty years and it con- to the #1 issue in 1938. Davey Law, “companion paper” tains just that – pure comic strips. A Ken Reid and Leo Baxendale arrived giving boys and girls total of 28 different strips/characters/ and with them changed the face of “double fun” every features appeared in the #1 issue, but the comic, co-creating Dennis the week with a only sixteen were actual comic strips. Menace, Minnie The Minx, Roger the Whoopee Mask given The comic was set to compete with a Dodger, and The Bash free with every copy. Street Kids. Despite this difference, multitude of boys’ story papers and With an arsenal of the #1 issue must in some way have adventure comics, some of which boys’ papers on the struck a chord with young readers, were those DC Thomson papers previ- market, namely The Hotspur , The which began its road to stardom. ously mentioned. The Editorial team Wizard , The Rover , Adventure and (Editor - George This article will focus on the very first The Skipper , DC Thomson were fur- Moonie, pictured here issue of The Beano comic; the format, ther equipped to draw in readers from in the 1980s; Chief characters, artists, editors and more. their existing titles. As well as printed Sub-Editor – Ron Fra- I should mention here that there are adverts in the comics, on occasion ser; Sub-Editors; Iain only around twelve or so original cop- flyer inserts were issued with these Chisholm, Freddie comics. I recently saw a Rover comic Simpson; Junior Sub- ies of The Beano comic #1 known to rd exist. Unfortunately, I don’t own one, #849, dated July 23 1938, which Editor – Stanley M. but I know a man who does, and sev- had its original centre page flyer in- Stamper; Managing Editor of DC eral of the surrounding images were sert advertising the release of the Thomson’s Juvenile Publications – taken from his original! Originals Beano comic #1. The flyer was R.D. Low) felt it safer to include some printed on both sides of a double of the more traditional stories so as

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not to alienate too many regular Charles Holt), Hairy Dan (1-297, Basil ers and keeping hold readers of the boys’ papers. The re- Blackaller), Contrary Mary (1-97, Ro- of existing ones be- maining twelve features were one land Davies), Smiler the Sweeper (1- yond the number one comic adventure strip, three adven- 20, S.K. Perkins), Helpful Henry (1-35, issue, with the inten- ture strips, seven prose stories and Eric Roberts), Big Fat Joe (1-35, Allan tion of getting them one feature. Morley), Rip Van Wink (1-336 first hooked on the comic, was to slap a free gift Staff artists at DC Thomson who on the cover. There worked on the first issue included were no fewer than Dudley Watkins, George ‘Dod’ Ander- three separate ad- son, Richard ‘Toby’ Baines, Jack Glass verts in the first issue and Charles ‘Chick’ Gordon. James for the free gift with Crichton was responsible for the the second issue – the editors bank- comic’s title logo. series, Eric Roberts), Uncle Windbag ing on the fact that the free packet of Freelance artists included , (1-20 first series, Charles Holt), Mon- sugar button sweets would tempt Hugh McNeill, Roland Davies, James key Tricks (1-20, Reg Carter) and Tin- even the most unconvinced readers. Jewell, Charles Holt, Basil Blackaller, Can Tommy (The Clockwork Boy) A common misconception is that S.K. Perkins, Eric Roberts and Allan (rear cover) (1-303). Although Big Fat , the Strongman’s Morley. Joe only lasted for 35 issues, you may Daughter, began in issue 1. She did be more familiar with him as one of Dudley Watkins was already demon- in fact first appear in issue 21, the Lord Snooty’s Pals, whom he joined up strating his artistic prowess with The 1938 Christmas issue. Drawn initially with in 1950. Broons and Oor Wullie in The Sunday by Hugh McNeill and later by Basil Post Fun Section, and Desperate Dan, Blackaller and Sam Fair, the comic Our Gang and Smarty in The strip ran for 305 consecutive issues Dandy comic. In The Beano comic, he in its first series so can be considered co-created The Adventures of Tom an influential strip in The Beano Thumb and, most notably, Lord comic’s early years. Snooty and His Pals, so it should come as little surprise that these two characters became popular and influ- ential strips in The Beano comic. The following paragraphs detail each character, the issue numbers they appeared in and their respective art- ists. Those characters in bold are con- sidered important as they lasted (with The only comic adventure strip was Hooky’s Magic Bowler Hat (1-108, Charles ‘Chick’ Gordon). The three ad- The characters appearing in the very venture strips included Wild Boy of first issue have been discussed the Woods (1-175 first series, Richard above, but what of those for the first ‘Toby’ Baines), Morgyn The Mighty couple of years when the comic was (1-14, George ‘Dod’ Anderson) and in its make-or-break stage? Well, Jack - The Wonder -Man including those mentioned above, (1-35, Jack Glass). the exception of Morgyn The Mighty) there were a total of 72 different for over one hundred issues and Seven prose stories were seen, includ- characters that came, went and/or paved the way for The Beano comic ing The Ape’s Secret (1-14, Richard remained in the issues up to the end to shine. Those with “first series” de- ‘Toby’ Baines), My Dog Sandy (1-14, of 1940. Those that went were ex- picted were popular enough to be re- Jack Glass), The Shipwrecked Kidds perimental and either not taken too introduced in at least one other series (1-17, Jack Glass), The Wangles of well by readers, or the Editors at a later date. Brave Captain Kipper Granny Green (1-26 first series, wanted a relatively quick turnaround and (originally) Tin-Can Tommy were Charles ‘Chick’ Gordon), The Wishing of lesser characters to keep a fresh Italian reprints supplied by the Milan- Tree (1-35, Jack Glass), Black appeal to the comic, with the regular based Torelli Bros. Art Agency. the Beaver (1-20, Richard ‘Toby’ staple of strong characters, like The sixteen comic strips were Big Baines) and, of most influence, The those highlighted above in bold, Eggo (front cover) (1-358, Reg Adventures of Tom Thumb (1-115 holding the fort. first series, Dudley Watkins). Carter), Ping The Elastic Man (1-126, The Beano comic is due to turn 70 in The inside rear cover featured Little July 2008. Despite competition from Peanut’s Page of Fun, consisting of computers and television, it is still a Jolly Jokes and Tricky Riddles. This popular comic with the likes of Den- feature lasted for 112 issues and was nis the Menace, drawn by Charles ‘Chick’ Gordon. and The Bash Street Kids, so with any luck it will be going strong for Although Morgyn the Mighty only many years to come. Fingers lasted for the first fourteen issues, he crossed! had already appeared in The Rover in Hugh McNeill), Lord Snooty and His the late twenties and was set to be- My thanks go to Stuart Jay for kindly Pals (1-367 first series, Dudley Wat- come a regular character in The Rover allowing me to photograph his origi- kins), Brave Captain Kipper (1-57), up until its demise in 1973, so he was nal copy of the Beano comic #1. I Whoopee Hank – The Slapdash Sheriff drafted in for some ‘strong’ support in would also like to acknowledge Ray (1-53, Roland Davies), Wee Peem (1- the first few issues. Moore as The Beano Diaries were 89 first series, James Jewell), Little invaluable in writing this article. Dead-Eye Dick (1-20 first series, A safe method of attracting new read-

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…L ETTERS TO THE E DITOR

Dear Phil and fellow members, thought no more of it until the follow- I was totally bowled over when my ing year; 1981. Again, on reading the wife received a letter saying that I Please find enclosed a true and some- Desperate Dan story I knew I had was in fact quite correct and that what funny story that members might seen it before, so I got out all my old they did have a policy of repeating like to hear about. Dandy comics and went through them. stories at that time if, for example, I am 54 years old and have been an Surprise, surprise, it turned out that the artist was sick. They thanked me avid Dandy and Beano reader for 48 1973 was the same as 1981, and so for pointing this out and as a reward years and a collector for 36+ years. on for the next 7 years. They merely for my vigilance made me an honoury Back in the 70's I had a collection of repeated the Desperate Dan stories, member of the Desperate Dan Pie comics numbering 2,000 so, instead word for word. Eaters’ Club, and suggested that I of getting them every week, I decided might like to wear the badge on my I thought this to be strange and so, just to get the issues running up to, pyjamas, which at 40+ years old was thinking I was being clever, wrote to and including, Christmas. After read- quite funny. Talk about sarcasm! DC Thomson but pretended the letter ing them I would put them away for was from my wife, relating the story Regards, Stan Mail, Liverpool safe keeping. In 1980 I received my to them and saying how vigilant I was first of the year around the beginning Editor Thanks for your amusing ac- for remembering this. I added that she of December and after reading The count, Stan! I was never a member, thought I deserved some reward for Dandy I got the distinct impression but do any subscribers know when my actions, preferably some original that I had seen the Desperate Dan the Pie Eaters’ Club ceased and how artwork etc. story before. After some pondering I many members it had?

DANDY F ACELIFT AT 70! by Phil Shrimpton

I read on the BBC News website recently that The Dandy comic was drawing to an end in its traditional format and would be given a major facelift in its 70th anniversary year. Naturally curious, I headed to my local newsagent and found The Dandy Xtreme , described as ‘Totally gross’. I bought #3430, costing £1.99, an increase from the former £1.20 price tag. The publication contains a 16-page centre ‘comix’ section, described as ‘The slickest, sickest comix ever!’, where readers are encouraged to rate the strips, where 0 out of 5 = Ming, and 5 out of 5 = Bling!. It was good to see the likes of Smasher, , Cuddle & Dimples and a Dudley Watkins Desperate Dan reprint in the comic, the editors clearly not wanting to lose sight of the more traditional Dandy comic. The Dandy Editor, Craig Graham, was quoted in the online article as saying "Following extensive research, we discov- ered The Dandy readers were struggling to schedule a weekly comic into their hectic lives. They just didn't have enough time. They're too busy gaming, surfing the net or watching TV, movies and DVDs. They still enjoyed The Dandy, but if they were going to buy it themselves they expected more than just 'a comic my dad used to read'. They required a guide, packed with the stuff kids need to know to stay in the loop - a lifestyle magazine attuned to their hectic lives, featuring all the latest trends, must-haves, must-sees and must-dos. They made us promise to retain comics, but sug- gested we make our characters cheekier, edgier, and more extreme. The Dandy Xtreme would still qualify as the world's longest running comic because the publication had been updated, and not replaced.” In all of DC Thomson’s comic publica- tions, the Editors have taken a very keen interest in their reader’s opinions. Take this advert from The Dandy comic #991 (1960) as a classic example. The letters (I should say emails) received at the Thomson editorial offices in recent years have strongly influenced the changes seen in the comic. My own interests in The Beano and The Dandy lie primarily in the pre-1970 material and I have bought very few copies of the comic, new from a newsagent, in the last fifteen years. My opinion, therefore, is very much from a back seat viewpoint, but the comments made by The Dandy Editor support my thoughts that The Dandy comic has been heavily influenced in the last ten or so years with competition from television, computers and the 21 st Century in general. It is no surprise that today’s child reader demands a different style of comic to that of the early years, when the aver- age reader might have been lucky to get a satsuma in their Christmas stocking, never mind a Nintendo Wii and a pleth- ora of games to go with it! Long live The Dandy Xtreme!

AUCTION R ESULTS ! Further to the adverts for our auction company in previous newsletters, we would like to draw your attention to another brand new feature on the phil-comics.com website. Over the past five years, phil-comics auctions has built up a sound reputation in buying, selling and auctioning new and vintage British comics and related material. We pride ourselves on our customer service and achieve some of the highest and most consistent prices on the market.

We are delighted to release the prices realised for all of our auction and private sales since 2003. Simply visit the Auction Results page of the website, type in a key word/s, click search and browse the auction results!

phil-comics auctions, PO Box 3433, Brighton, BN50 9JA, UK 01273 673462 - [email protected] - www.phil-comics.com

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